Fourwinds Resort pasta bar mediocre

The setting of Fourwinds Resort and Marina, on lovely Lake Monroe, creates the potential for a romantic getaway for Valentine's Day or during the warmer spring season. With large windows overlooking the water and a quiet, pleasant atmosphere, this could be a great place to bring a date.\nThe drawbacks of the restaurant -- located at 9301 Fairfax Road -- are the quality and selection of its food. When we ate here Saturday -- "pasta bar" night -- it was mediocre at best. \nAppetizers\nBecause we arrived on pasta bar night, our appetizer options were limited to self-serve salads and garlic bread. The Caesar salad was average, with generous portions of croutons and the right amount of dressing. The bread was a bit hard on the outside, but the inside was fluffy and dripping with butter. \nHouse salad was also available with a variety of dressings.\nEntrees\nOur pasta bar options included penne pasta and fettuccini. A chef individually prepared each pasta dish. We could include items such as green and red peppers, tomatoes, shrimp, grilled chicken, mushrooms, garlic and onions. Sauce options included marinara and alfredo.\nThe chef was helpful, making suggestions about combinations of spices and vegetables; the garlic he suggested we add to one dish was a perfect supplement. The olive oil in which he sauteed the pasta and toppings was served liberally.\nWe tried combinations of chicken and garlic, and green and red peppers and garlic. The chicken was well cooked and tender -- combined with the garlic it gave the fettuccini some pizzazz. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, and had an excellent flavor. The marinara sauce had a good blend of tomatoes and spices. But we have tasted better pasta elsewhere.\nDesserts\nWe were disappointed about this category. Our server originally offered us a long list of options, including a "chocolate confusion" dessert, pies, ice creams and cheesecakes. But when we actually ordered, it seemed only the cheesecake and vanilla ice cream were available.\nWe settled for cheesecake with raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. To the Fourwinds' credit, the raspberry sauce was excellent. But the cheesecake wasn't quite creamy enough. It had perhaps been chilled for too long. \nThe ice cream was average.\nOverall\nGet directions, and allow yourself about 20 minutes to drive there from campus.\nOur service at Fourwinds was friendly and prompt, considering that our server was new. Our glasses weren't always full, but our plates were promptly cleared from the table.\nThough the staff was helpful and friendly, and the setting lovely, the quality and selection of food at Fourwinds' limits its potential as a great Valentine's Day option. Our server informed us the restaurant is preparing a special Valentine's Day menu, but we recommend caution before making reservations.\nOther Valentine's Day suggestions\nWe've been in the restaurant reviewing business for more than a year now. In that time, we've visited several restaurants we think make great places for dates. If you're still searching for that perfect Valentine's Day meal, here are a few suggestions.\nScholar's Inn, 717 N. College Ave., offers a fabulous dessert menu (our favorite in town) as well as some unique and delicious entrees. It's sophisticated and fancy, but not overly romantic -- a good choice for a blooming relationship.\nPuccini's La Dolce Vita, 420 E. Fourth St., is the best Italian cuisine in town. It offers a romantic, candlelit atmosphere in a quiet, intimate setting. The Valentine's Day decorations are delightful.\nLimestone Grille, 2920 E. Covenanter Drive, is more low-key. But the food is exquisite; the steak and salmon are our favorites.\nIf you don't already have reservations at one of these establishments, you might have trouble making them now. But try anyway; if the restaurants have nothing available for this year, keep them in mind for next year.